OBJECTIVETo investigate the mechanism of the apoptosis-inducing effects of dopamine on K562 leukemia cells.

METHODSK562 cells were treated with DP2785, the dopamine receptors were detected with fluorescence spectrophotometer, UV spectrophotometer and fluorescence microscope; the contents of cAMP in K562 cells were measured; and the subtypes of dopamine receptor on K562 cells were analyzed by receptor blocking.

RESULTThe existence of dopamine receptors in K562 cells was demonstrated by fluorescence microscopy, UV spectrophotometer and fluorescence spectrophotometer. Dopamine enhanced the contents of cAMP in K562 cells. Dopamine receptors were blocked by both D1 and D2 antagonists.

CONCLUSIOND1 and D2 dopamine receptors may be involved in dopamine-induced apoptosis of K562 cells, and dopamine can also increase the contents of cAMP in K562 cells.

Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Cyclic AMP ; metabolism ; Dopamine ; pharmacology ; Humans ; K562 Cells ; Microscopy, Fluorescence ; Receptors, Dopamine D1 ; metabolism ; Receptors, Dopamine D2 ; metabolism ; Spectrometry, Fluorescence ; Spectrophotometry, Ultraviolet

Objective To study the distribution, morphology and density of CD68+ monocytes/macro,phages in normal human dermis. Methods Normal skin specimens from 6 sites including face, trunk, proximal limbs, distal limbs, palms and soles of 8 adults were collected. The epidermal sheets, horizontal and longitudinal sections of the specimens were stained with an ABC immunoperoxidase procedure with anti-CD68 monoclonal antibodies. Results The CD68+ cells were detected within the superficial dermis with various densities: 562 ? 230/mm2 at distal limbs, 517 ? 162/mm2 at trunk, 509 ? 235/mm2 at face, 507 ? 192/mm2 at palms, 472 ? 138/mm2 at proximal limbs and 361 ? 78/mm2 at soles. Lower densities of CD68+ cells with dendritic morphology were found in the deep (reticular) dermis, and dispersed among collagen bundles. Conclusions There are CD68+ monocytes and macrophages in the superficial dermis, forming a relatively dense network of defense. Such a distribution might indicate the clear polarity of the CD68+ monocytes/macrophages in the dermis, with their direction of defense towards the dermal-epidermal junction.

Antigens, CD ; blood ; Antigens, Neoplasm ; blood ; Bone Marrow ; immunology ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Flow Cytometry ; methods ; Humans ; Male ; Myeloid Cells ; Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma ; immunology ; mortality ; Survival Rate

OBJECTIVETo investigate the precise locations of the blood vessels and nerves surrounding the seminal vesicles (SV) in men and provide some anatomical evidence for SV-related minimally invasive surgery.

METHODSWe observed the courses and distribution of the blood vessels and nerves surrounding SVs and obtained the data for positioning the SV neuroplexes in 20 male pelvises.

RESULTSOne branch of the neuroplexes was distributed to the SVs bilaterally with the neurovascular bundles, (2.85 ± 0.18) cm from the median sulcus of the prostate (MSP), while another branch ran through the Denonvillier fascia behind the SV, (0.81 ± 0.06) cm from the MSP. The arterial SVs (ASV) originated from the inferior vesical artery and fell into 4 types, 55% going directly to the SVs as one branch, 15% running between the SV and the ampulla of the deferent duct as another branch, 25% downward as 2 branches to the SV and between the SV and the ampulla of the deferent duct respectively, and 5% as the other ASVs. The shortest distance from the ASV through the prostatic neuroplexus to the posterior SV was (1.08 ± 0.09) cm.

CONCLUSIONIn SV resection, neuroplexus injury can be reduced with a bilateral distance of < 2.85 cm and a posterior distance of < 0.81 cm from the MSP, and so can bleeding by vascular ligation between the SV and the ampulla of the deferent duct.

Biopsy ; Humans ; Male ; Prostate ; blood supply ; innervation ; Seminal Vesicles ; blood supply ; innervation ; Vas Deferens ; blood supply ; innervation

OBJECTIVETo study the alteration and significance of IL-6, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) in MM progression and the interaction between the three cytokines.

METHODSBone marrow samples from 28 patients with multiple myeloma (MM) (evolution group and steady group), 10 iron deficiency anemia (as normal control) and 2 monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS) were studied. Bone marrow stromal cells (BMSCs) were established from the bone marrow MNCs. ELISA was performed to detect the concentration of IL-6, VEGF, IGF-1 in culture supernates.

RESULTS(1) The levels of IL-6 and VEGF secreted by BMSCs were increased in an order from normal control to steady group to evolution group (P < 0.05). However, the concentration of IGF-1 did not increase in MM patients (P > 0.05). (2) The levels of IL-6, VEGF and IGF-1 in the coculture supernates of U266 and BMSCs were increased significantly (P < 0.05), being in an ascending order from normal control to steady group to evolution group (P < 0.05). (3) BMSCs stimulated by exogenous IL-6, VEGF or IGF-1, secreted more VEGF, IGF-1/IL-6, IGF-1/VEGF, IL-6 than unstimulated (P < 0.05). (4) The levels of IL-6, VEGF, IGF-1 secreted by BMSCs from MGUS were similar to that from control group.

CONCLUSIONSIL-6, VEGF, IGF-1 levels associate with evolution of MM; IL-6, VEGF and IGF-1 induce an increase in cytokines secretion of BMSCs.

Anemia, Iron-Deficiency ; blood ; pathology ; Bone Marrow Cells ; metabolism ; pathology ; Cells, Cultured ; Female ; Humans ; Insulin-Like Growth Factor I ; metabolism ; Interleukin-6 ; blood ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Multiple Myeloma ; blood ; pathology ; Paraproteinemias ; blood ; pathology ; Stromal Cells ; metabolism ; pathology ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A ; blood

Objective To investigate the anti-apoptotic function of clusterin in LNCaP cell line and the role of clusterin antisense oligodcoxynucleotide(AS-ODN)in TNF-?-induced death of LNCaP cell. Methods The wild type LNCaP(group L),LNCaP transfected with the control vector(group M),LNCaP transfected with full-length clusterin expression vector(group A,ie,study group)were cultured.For the de- tection of cytotoxic effect of TNF-?,MTT and ELISA methods were used to determine the cell proliferation and apoptosis of the 3 clones,and the changes of proliferation and apoptosis in A cell after transfection of clusterin AS-ODN were also assessed.Results MTT method showed that the cell proliferation activity(A value)of groups L,M,and A were 0.84?0.03,0.85?0.04,0.95?0.03,respectively;the difference be- tween groups L and M was not significant(P＞0.05);but compared with group A the cell proliferation activ- ity was significantly lower in groups L and M(P＜0.01 for both).ELISA resuhs showed that the A values of groups L,M,and A were 0.59?0.04,0.62?0.03,0.33?0.04,respectively;the difference between groups L and M was not significant(P＞0.05);but compared with group A,the apoptosis rates were significantly higher in groups L and M(P＜0.01 for both).In group A,A values of cell proliferation activity in subgroups control,AS-ODN,TNF-?,TNF-?+AS-ODN were 1.30?0.03,1.25?0.03,0.99?0.03,0.80?0.03, respectively;the differences between each group were significant(P＜0.05 for all).And the A values of cell apoptosis in the above 4 groups were 0.02?0.00,0.21?0.02,0.63?0.07,1.16?0.04,respectively,the differences between each group were significant(P＜0.01 for all).Conclusions Stable transfection and subsequent expression of clusterin result in resistance to the cytotoxic effect of TNF-?.Transfection with clus- terin AS-ODN enhances cytotoxic effect of TNF-?in A cells.These results suggest that clusterin plays an im- portant role in anti-apoptotic function in LNCaP cell line.

To investigate the changes of platelet activated state and platelet activated function by trace whole blood flow cytometry (FCM), and to explore the mechanism of hemorrhage and infiltration in adults with acute leukemia, the expression percentage and changes of these expressions of CD62p and PAC-1 on platelet surface were determined by FCM of trace whole blood after platelet activated by ADP in patients with new diagnosed AL (group I), complete remission (CR, group II) and continuously complete remission (CCR, group III). Healthy adults were used as control group. The result showed that the expression of CD62p in group I and II was higher than that in control group, before and after platelet activated by ADP (P < 0.01). The expression of PAC-1 in group I was higher than that in control group (P < 0.01), the expression of PAC-1 in group II was lower than that in control group (P > 0.01), There was no significant difference in expression of CD62p and PAC-1 between group III and control group (P > 0.01), and no significant difference was found between AL group with megakaryocyte malignant pathological changes and AL group without megakaryocyte malignant pathological changes before platelet activated by ADP (P > 0.01). After platelet activated by ADP, the expression of PAC-1 in the former was lower than that in the latter (P < 0.01). It is concluded that (1) high level activated platelet in peripheral blood of AL patients show that interaction between activated platelet and leukemia cells can be one of reason resulting in widespread hemorrhage and infiltration AL patiens; (2) the decrease of number and activted function of platelet at the first stage of AL patients may be caused by malignant hyperplasia of leukemia cells and damage of megakaryopoiesis in bone marrow.
Acute Disease ; Adenosine Diphosphate ; pharmacology ; Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Blood Platelets ; cytology ; metabolism ; Cell Membrane ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Female ; Flow Cytometry ; Humans ; Leukemia ; blood ; pathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; P-Selectin ; biosynthesis ; Platelet Activation ; drug effects ; physiology ; Platelet Glycoprotein GPIIb-IIIa Complex ; biosynthesis

OBJECTIVETo study gene expression profiling in human type I and II endometrial carcinoma.

METHODSSix Affymetrix human genome genechips were utilized to investigate the differences in gene expression profiles between type I and II endometrial carcinoma with bioinformatic analysis.

RESULTSMany genes were highly expressed in estrogen-dependent endometrial carcinoma, and some of them were involved in the metabolism and conversion of estrogen, while some others in estrogen regulation. CYP2C9, for instance, was involved in the conversion of estrogen sulfate to 16-hydroxy sulfate metabolite, DDC in estrogen-dependent pathogenesis of endometrial carcinoma possibly by DDC interaction with AR to enhance steroid receptor transcription.

CONCLUSIONHigh expression of these genes in estrogen-dependent endometrial carcinoma may provide insights into their roles in the pathogenesis and prognosis of this malignancy.

Adenocarcinoma ; genetics ; pathology ; Adenocarcinoma, Clear Cell ; genetics ; pathology ; Endometrial Neoplasms ; classification ; genetics ; pathology ; Female ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic ; Humans ; Microarray Analysis ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction

OBJECTIVETo define changes in clusterin expression following short-term neoadjuvant hormone therapy (NHT) and its biological significance in prostate cancer tissues.

METHODSTwenty-six archival radical prostatectomy (RP) specimens without receiving NHT, 19 needle biopsies and corresponding 19 RP specimens following 3-month NHT, were subjected to immunohistochemical clusterin staining.

RESULTSStaining for clusterin was mainly found in cytoplasm and part of extracellular matrix. Clusterin expression was significantly greater in RP specimens with preoperative NHT (t = 2.91, P < 0.01); Needle biopsies obtained before NHT consistently demonstrated lower staining intensity (1.42 +/- 0.51) than corresponding RP specimens (2.16 +/- 0.60) following 3-month NHT (t = 7.10, P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONSUpregulation of clusterin in part accounts for malignant progression of prostate cancer through its anti-apoptotic action following androgen withdrawal. These findings support that adjuvant therapy targeting clusterin may enhance androgen ablation therapy in advanced prostate cancer.

Aged ; Clusterin ; genetics ; metabolism ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoadjuvant Therapy ; methods ; Oligonucleotides, Antisense ; therapeutic use ; Prostatic Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; therapy

BACKGROUNDMinimally invasive flexible ureteroscopy techniques have widely adopted in the management of patients with renal stones. We performed this study to investigate the value of virtual reality simulator training in retrograde flexible ureteroscopy renal stone treatment for catechumen.

METHODSThirty catechumen, included 17 attending physicians and 13 associate chief physicians, were selected for study. The trainees first underwent 1-hour basic training to get familiar with the instrument and basic procedures, then followed by 4-hour practice on virtual reality simulators. Before and after the 4-hour training, all trainees undertake an assessment with task 7 program (right low pole calyces stone management). We documented for each trainee the total time of procedure, time of progressing from the orifice to stone, stone translocation and fragmentation time, laser operate proficiency scale, total laser energy, maximal size of residual stone fragments, number of trauma from the scopes and tools, damage to the scope and global rating scale (GRS). The proficiency of this training program was analyzed by the comparison of the first and second assessment outcomes.

RESULTSSignificant improvement was observed in retrograde flexible ureteroscopy management of renal stone on virtual reality simulators after finishing the 4 hour special-purpose training. This was demonstrated by improvement in total procedure time ((18.37±2.59) minutes vs. (38.67±1.94) minutes), progressing time from the orifice to stone ((4.00±1.08) minutes vs. (13.80±2.01) minutes), time of stone translocation ((1.80±0.71) minutes vs. (6.57±1.01) minutes), fragmentation time ((4.43±1.25) minutes vs. (13.53±1.46) minutes), laser operate proficiency scale (8.47±0.73 vs. 3.77±0.77), total laser energy ((3231.6±401.4) W vs. (5329.8±448.9) W), maximal size of residual stone fragments ((2.66±0.39) mm vs. (5.77±0.63) mm), number of trauma from the scopes and tools (3.27±1.01 vs. 10.37±3.02), damage to the scope (0 vs. 0.97±0.76) and GRS (29.27±2.95 vs. 9.87±2.21). The differences between the first and the second assessment were all statistically significant (all P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONThe virtual reality simulator training program can help the trainees to rapidly improve their retrograde flexible ureteroscopy skill in renal stone treatment.

Adult ; Computer Simulation ; Humans ; Kidney Calculi ; Male ; Ureteroscopy ; education ; Urology ; education